Health Is Most Important | Paying It Forward To Keep Others Healthy
If any of us has a guardian angel whispering in our ear to eat right and exercise, that angel would be Barbara. I admire her commitment to her healthy lifestyle and she doesn't stop there.
I think the older we get, the more important it is to “Pay It Forward” while there continues to be “quality time” to satisfy this task! The most meaningful offering to others from me is relative to health. Yes, health is a factor of life that should be important to everyone, but unfortunately, it’s often not addressed in time!
I’m hearing about people who are only in their late 40’s and having blockages and heart attacks. They’re too young to be experiencing that and, more often than not, it’s directly related to poor eating habits and a complete lack of a structured workout plan.
Four and half years ago, I decided to make a life altering decision and had weight loss surgery. I was morbidly obese. Within 2 years I went from 310 to 128 and from a size 28 to a 4 petite. I’ve maintained this size for 2+ years, and I’m an avid weight lifter and focus on strength training.
Those who have not experienced obesity may not understand the stress and fear involved with establishing an exercise program in a public facility. I’ve seen overweight women cry when they’re at the gym. The thought of working out in front of men and women who are fit and well defined is horrific to them.
I have committed to assisting those who are pre and post-surgical participants with working out at the gym. I meet them and stay with them as they become familiar and more comfortable with routines that will help speed up their metabolism. The routines I create are basic, but those participating continue to improve, and with that improvement comes confidence!
Confidence in the gym is a “huge” factor with men and women. Confidence comes with success. Success with the basics and progressing to the next level. Keeping a chart with this progress is monumental to each participant.
It’s a competitive event that each of them is proud to share with others at their Support Group. I attend those support groups to encourage members to join me at the YMCA. I’ve negotiated free passes for them, and they are able to work-out together without me when they reach a level of confidence.
Members of the Y are very supportive. The trainers are always helpful, and they’ve encouraged ME to help others, since I’ve surpassed many of THEM with what I’ve accomplished.
The message that I continue to preach is that if I can do what I’m doing at 71, folks in their late 20’s to 50’s can certainly get into shape and “strut their stuff in the gym.”
It’s working well, and I love what I do. It actually makes me want to enroll in a Personal Trainer course and get my state certification. I was a biology major and physical education minor in college and certain have a firm handle on anatomy, physiology and kinesiology (the study of the body in motion.)
The weight loss program at our local hospital is filled consistently with pre-surgical patients who must go through a 6 month program to reach the point of scheduling surgery. There are skills classes included, and I speak at all of the exercise skills classes.
Weight loss surgery is NOT a quick fix, and it’s NOT a sure cure to get healthy. It’s a TOOL. It’s a method of reprogramming the overweight person to eat and live in a healthy fashion. I’m very programmable!!! Others are not and regain weight. Some regain all of their weight. If I can help them feel better about themselves and give some guidance with “working out in the kitchen” as well as “the gym,” it’s very satisfying to me.
Only someone who has experienced all of it, and in an extreme state of health, can understand the dynamics involved. There is nothing in life that would be more important for me to do than to “pay it forward” by helping others get healthy.
I also hope I didn’t bore you…I HAVE written about this topic previously on ActiveRain but not with this detail.
And did I mention, this post is 686 words!!!!!!!!!!!
Just sayin’…..
Barbara Todaro, sales manager of RE/MAX Executive Realty
Marketing Agent for The Todaro Team
308 W. Central St...suite E
Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-9881
www.todarosellsfranklinma.com
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